Hi guys, so last week my basking bulb went so i have to get another. The original was exoterra the new was prorep, both 100w. Today the bulb just went again after only 1 week or use!
It's 4:30pm and I can't leave the house to go get a basking bulb as i have 2 young kids at home and no car to get out. Wife is not home until 9pm so she won't be able to get to the pet shop to pick a bulb up either.
My poor little beardie is sitting on the log in her basking area and has climbed to the highest point, I feel so sorry for her. I am going to put her hot water bottle in for her to sit on, She loves to sit on it on my computer desk and watch me. Will this be enough to keep her warm until the morning? It's 28c in there atm about an hour since the bulb went. Can i still feed her or should i now?
Any help or ideas as to what i can do to asap would be great.
If you have a spare house or flood bulb, you could use that to give her some heat, just make sure you keep an eye on temps so that it doesn't too hot since the wattage will be different from your usual basking bulb. You could also potentially take her outside to sit in the sun if it is warm enough, not sure where you are from.
If the temps aren't high enough even with the house bulb, however, I would not recommend feeding because beardies need the heat to digest their food and you don't want that undigested food sitting in her stomach. One missing feeding won't be too bad (and she might not eat if she isn't warmed up anyway — at least, my beardie won't).
The hot water bottle should be okay but wrap it in something like a towel and test it yourself first to make sure it doesn't get too hot. You can also wrap her in a blanket or use body heat to help keep her warm, but she should be okay for the night as long as it doesn't get too cold in your house.
Ok thanks for the reply, All our light fittings are bayonet cap not screw so it won't work with the fitting on the viv. The reptil glow 2.0 & 10.0 have kept the viv about 27c so i think that is a plus.
She has not gone to her hot water bottle since i put it in which is strange because she loves to sit on it when i take her out, i'm used to her using it now so the temp is ok.
Taking her out is not an option here in Ireland.. haha
When the kids go to bed i will take her out for cuddles to keep warm.
Have you had any experience with prorep lights before? I am going to have some backups ready after today.
No problem, it sounds like she should be just fine, if the water bottle is there and she's familiar with it from using it in the past, she will probably go to it when she feels the need. 27 C is not a bad temporary overall temp — it won't be enough for her to digest her food but she shouldn't be too cold, so she should be okay until you get the basking light. But yes I think taking her out for some cuddles later is a good idea Then again I think any excuse for dragon cuddles is good.
I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about prorep lights. I use regular flood bulbs in my enclosure instead of the official basking lights. Someone else may have information on those, though.